Points Champions to be Crowned This Week at Friday Night Drags

With the final regular-season Friday Night Drags & Show-N-Shine on tap this week at Atlanta Motor Speedway, points champions in each division will be crowned at the conclusion of racing this Friday night.

Many divisions feature close battles for the championship, which was only enhanced with double points awarded to winners last week.In what was at one time a runaway points race, the Super Pro division has turned into a very competitive battle. McDonough’s Mark White, the current points leader, leads the surging Conyers-resident Mike Herring by only two points. White has not visited victory lane since week six, and has suffered mechanical difficulties over the latter-half of the season. Meanwhile Herring’s one win and steady showings have moved him within striking distance for the championship this week.

Pro division action features a three-point separation at the top of the season standings. McDonough’s David Craft, powered by four straight wins, leads David Sisk of Fayetteville, who has claimed two victories of his own. Another three-point lead can be found in the new Street Modified division, where Kyle Cumpton of Snellville leads Dallas-resident Peter Rogowski by three markers. Both Cumpton and Rogowski have claimed one win apiece since the division started racing in week 11.

In one of the most intense battles of the entire season, the Street Outlaw division sports a tie atop the standings entering the final week. Daryl Stiles of Williamson, on the strength of five wins, sits locked together with Stockbridge’s Jason Thomas. Thomas owns three wins of his own and was defeated in the final round of action last week. A win there would have propelled Thomas alone into the lead. Instead, he remains tied with Stiles, which should lead to heated competition this Friday night.

With numerous championships up for grabs, each pass down the eighth-mile pit lane drag strip this week will be crucial, and promises to provide fans with entertaining and dramatic racing all night at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

This Week and Upcoming at Friday Night Drags

Fans in attendance during the Aug. 17 Friday Night Drags can enter to win the grand prize NHRA ticket giveaway that will be drawn the same night. One lucky fan will win a trip to all three days of drag racing at the NHRA O’Reilly Auto Parts Nationals at zMAX Dragway in Charlotte, N.C., Sept. 14-16. The grand prize winner will receive two suite passes to all three days of drag racing, hotel accommodations and parking. Fans can pick-up an entry form at the gate ticket windows or the souvenir stand on the main concourse. All entries will be at the souvenir stand on the main concourse.

Papa John’s Pizza will be present to hand out 100 gift cards to the first 100 people who buy two or more tickets at the gate on the final night of the series’ Fall Stampede on Friday, Sept. 21. That night will also feature giveaways of free pork sandwiches and chicken tenders, courtesy of Shane’s Rib Shack.

With family-friendly activities that everyone can be a part of, Friday Night Drags & Show-N-Shine is a full evening of family fun and at a great bargain.

The 2012 Friday Night Drags season runs each Friday night through Aug. 17, with the Fall Stampede taking place Sept. 14 and Sept. 21. Practice runs begin at 6:15 p.m. and grandstand gates open at 6:30 p.m. Show-N-Shine car show judging begins at 6:15 p.m. with a track cruise at 8:00 p.m. Drag racing eliminations begin at 9:09 p.m.

All racers ages 16 and 17 must have a fully-executed minor’s release form on file at the speedway prior to competition and forms are available at the speedway or at www.atlantamotorspeedway.com. Competitors must wear a DOT-approved helmet and have operational seat belts in their vehicle and pass a pre-race safety inspection.

Entry to drag race or for the Show-N-Shine is $20 or competitors can enter both for $30. Spectator admission is only $8 with children five and under free. Exterior parking is free, while infield parking is $20.